Swift reunion for Bulgaria and Montenegro

Bulgaria and Montenegro are in for a quick reunion in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group G after locking horns for the first time on the road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Team news
• Bulgaria look to kick-start their campaign on home soil after opening with a 4-0 defeat by England at Wembley. Stanislav Manolev is definitely out, while Valeri Bojinov is expected to be fit despite being restricted to light training because of a minor niggle.

• "It is hard to accept such a heavy defeat," said Coach Stanimir Stoilov after the England game. "We did not keep our tactical discipline towards the end and conceded goals. We were a little bit nervous at the start and conceded an early goal. When we started to play well and we found our rhythm we conceded the second goal and the game was over. We miss a player like Dimitar Berbatov."

• Bulgaria squad
Goalkeepers: Nikolay Mihaylov (FC Twente), Vladislav Stoyanov (FC Sheriff)
Defenders: Zhivko Milanov (FC Vaslui), Ivan Ivanov (FC Alania Vladikavkaz), Zahari Sirakov (FC Amkar Perm), Iliyan Stoyanov (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Veselin Minev (PFC Levski Sofia)
Midfielders: Stanislav Angelov (FC Steaua Bucureşti), Chavdar Yankov (FC Rostov), Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa FC), Stanislav Genchev (FC Vaslui), Georgi Peev (FC Amkar Perm), Nikolai Dimitrov (Kasimpasa SK), Martin Petrov (Bolton Wanderers FC)
Forwards: Iliyan Mitsanski (1.FC Kaiserlsautern), Valeri Domovchiyski (Hertha BSC Berlin), Valeri Bozhinov (Parma FC), Martin Kamburov (Dalien Shide FC), Dimitar Rangelov (BV Borussia Dortmund), Ivelin Popov (PFC Litex Lovech)

• Montenegro coach Zlatko Kranjčar is looking to build on a 1-0 win against Wales. "We got three important and well deserved points," he said. "Now we go to Sofia wanting not to lose. I will be satisfied with a draw, but we will do everything we can to win against Bulgaria. I know how to do that as I won against them as Croatia head coach in 2006 World Cup qualifying. They know that, they know about me, but I am not the one that they need to be frightened of. They must think about Mirko Vučinić, Simon Vukčević and my players, who are capable of getting three points."

• Vučinić, the match-winner against Wales, has a minor knock and only trained for 20 minutes on the eve of the game. "We will wait until the last minute to see if he's ready, but if not Fatos Bećiraj or Andrija Delibašić will come in," said Kranjčar, who also has a doubt over Miodrag Džudović. Radoslav Batak stands by.

• Montenegro squad
Goalkeepers: Mladen Božović (Videoton FC), Srdjan Blažić (R. Standard de Liège), Ivan Janjušević (FK Mogren Budva)
Defenders: Marko Baša (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Savo Pavićević (FC Kavala), Miodrag Džudović (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Milan Jovanović (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Stefan Savić (FK Partizan), Luka Pejović (FK Mogren Budva), Draško Božović (FK Mogren Budva), Žarko Tomašević (CD Nacional), Radoslav Batak (FK Mogren Budva)
Midfielders: Elsad Zverotić (FC Luzern), Ivan Fatić (Genoa CFC), Milorad Peković (SpVgg Greuther Fürth), Mitar Novaković (FC Amkar Perm), Vladimir Božović (FC Rapid Bucureşti), Simon Vukčević (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Nikola Drinčić (FC Spartak Moskva), Branko Bošković (DC United), Mladen Kašćelan (Jagiellonia Białystok)
Forwards: Mirko Vučinić (AS Roma), Radomir Djalović (HNK Rijeka), Fatos Bećiraj (FK Budućnost Podgorica), Andrija Delibašić (Rayo Vallecano de Madrid), Dejan Damjanović (FC Seoul)

Match background
• Bulgaria's record in their two matches against Montenegro reads W1 D1 L0 (W1 D0 L0 at home).

• The nations first came together in Podgorica on 6 September 2008 and the match seemed to be heading in Montenegro's favour until Blagoy Georgiev salvaged a 2-2 draw two minutes into added time. Second-half strikes from Mirko Vučinić and Stevan Jovetić had earlier put the hosts ahead after Stiliyan Petrov struck in the 11th minute.

• Jovetić was also on target during the return fixture in Sofia on 5 September 2009, firing Montenegro in front on nine minutes before Radostin Kishishev and Dimitar Telkiyski put Bulgaria in charge with goals either side of half-time. The home team then gave the scoreline a more one-sided appearance courtesy of late efforts from Dimitar Berbatov and Valeri Domovchiyski.